Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested the leader of a notorious armed robbery syndicate that has been terrorising residents of Ifo Local Government Area and nearby communities.
The suspect, 32-year-old Lekan Anuoluwapo, was apprehended alongside his 33-year-old female companion, Ajoke Kareem, around 12:40 a.m. on Saturday in the Oloshe area of Ifo.
According to the state police spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, the gang had been responsible for a series of violent attacks in Agosi, Old Bank Area, Olomu Road, Oju-Sango, Folam, Oloshe Road, Ikorita, and Ajowa, among other communities in the Ifo axis. She confirmed that the syndicate had been linked to multiple armed robbery cases, including one in which a resident was shot in the chest and robbed of valuables.
Odutola said, “Two robbery incidents have been directly traced to the syndicate. On October 17, 2025, at about 6:30 a.m., two armed men attacked a woman who was sweeping a church compound in preparation for morning prayers and snatched her handbag containing an undisclosed amount of money. One Wale Adeleye, later arrested, confessed to committing the crime alongside Lekan Anuoluwapo, using a locally made pistol.
“Similarly, on October 25, 2025, around 3:00 a.m., armed robbers attacked a resident at gunpoint and stole valuables including a power bank, an Infinix phone, and a POS machine. The victim was shot in the chest while attempting to raise an alarm. The assailants fled the scene, abandoning a locally made pistol with an empty cartridge. The victim later identified Lekan Anuoluwapo as one of the attackers.”
Further investigation led to the arrest of another accomplice, 36-year-old Akpomoka Gabriel, also known as Akuru, who resides in Ogba-Iyo, Ijoko-Ota.
Odutola noted that news of the arrests sparked jubilation among residents of Ijoko and Ogba-Iyo, who expressed relief over the police breakthrough in dismantling the gang responsible for several robbery attacks in the area.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, commended the operatives for their courage and professionalism. He ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.
Ogunlowo also directed the Area Commanders of Sango-Ota and Ifo to intensify security patrols at identified flashpoints during the “Ember” months to curb criminal activities and safeguard lives and property.